Lump sum or dollar-cost average — which wins? See how investing $500/month compounds over time, then compare against the same amount invested all at once.
FV = P × [((1 + r)^n - 1) / r] × (1 + r)The future value of a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) uses the future value of an annuity formula. Each monthly investment (P) grows at the periodic return rate (r), with contributions made at the beginning of each period. The total number of periods is n = years × 12.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| FV | Future value of the SIP investment |
| P | Monthly investment amount |
| r | Periodic (monthly) return rate (annual rate ÷ 12) |
| n | Total number of investment periods (months) |
Our calculations are based on established financial and scientific formulas. The following sources inform the default values and methodology used in this calculator:
SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) invests a fixed amount at regular intervals, averaging out market volatility. Lump sum investing puts all money in at once, which performs better in consistently rising markets but carries higher risk. Historically, lump sum beats SIP about 66% of the time in developed markets, but SIP significantly reduces timing risk.
| Aspect | SIP | Lump Sum |
|---|---|---|
| Investment style | Fixed amount monthly/quarterly | Entire amount at once |
| Market timing risk | Low (averages entry price) | High (all-in at one price) |
| Best in | Volatile or declining markets | Consistently rising markets |
| Average return | Slightly lower (cash drag) | Slightly higher (full exposure) |
| Emotional discipline | High (automated) | Requires conviction |
| Suitable for | Salaried investors, beginners | Windfall recipients, experienced |
Scenario: $100,000 invested over 10 years at 8% average annual return Lump Sum: • Invest $100,000 on Day 1 • After 10 years: $215,892 SIP ($833/month = $100,000 total): • Invest $833 every month for 10 years • After 10 years: ~$152,000-$186,000 (depends on market path) • In rising markets: ~$186,000 (14% less than lump sum) • In volatile markets: ~$165,000 (might beat lump sum if crash early)
If you have a lump sum and markets are at reasonable valuations, investing it gradually over 3-6 months (a modified SIP) captures most of the lump sum advantage while reducing timing risk.
A Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) turns small monthly contributions into significant wealth over time through the power of compounding. The table below shows how different monthly SIP amounts grow at an assumed 10% annual return over various time horizons.
| Monthly SIP | 5 Years | 10 Years | 15 Years | 20 Years | 25 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100 | $7,808 | $20,655 | $41,447 | $75,603 | $129,818 |
| $250 | $19,520 | $51,637 | $103,618 | $189,008 | $324,546 |
| $500 | $39,041 | $103,275 | $207,236 | $378,015 | $649,091 |
| $1,000 | $78,082 | $206,550 | $414,472 | $756,030 | $1,298,182 |
| $2,000 | $156,164 | $413,100 | $828,944 | $1,512,060 | $2,596,364 |
| $5,000 | $390,410 | $1,032,749 | $2,072,360 | $3,780,150 | $6,490,910 |
The key to SIP success is consistency and time. Investing $500 monthly for 25 years at 10% returns yields over $649,000 — more than double the $150,000 you actually contributed. Starting early matters enormously: the same $500 monthly started 10 years later (15-year horizon) yields only $207,000. Use this calculator to model your own SIP plan with customizable return rates and timeframes.
Dollar-cost averaging has no exotic math — the formula people search for is just the average purchase price: total dollars invested ÷ total shares accumulated. Because you buy a fixed dollar amount each period, you automatically buy more shares when prices are low and fewer when they are high. That is why the average cost per share from a DCA plan is always equal to or lower than the simple average of the prices you paid across the periods.
| Month | Amount Invested | Share Price | Shares Bought |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $300 | $10.00 | 30.0 |
| 2 | $300 | $15.00 | 20.0 |
| 3 | $300 | $7.50 | 40.0 |
| Total | $900 | Avg price: $10.83 | 90.0 |
Average cost per share = $900 ÷ 90 shares = $10.00 — versus a simple average price of ($10.00 + $15.00 + $7.50) ÷ 3 = $10.83. The 83-cent gap is the mechanical edge of spreading purchases out: the cheap month ($7.50) bought you 40 of your 90 shares. This is the same math whether you invest $300 monthly in an index fund or a fixed sum into a 401(k) every paycheck. One honest caveat: DCA does not guarantee better returns than lump-sum investing — in steadily rising markets it costs you early gains. What it standardizes is discipline and entry-price risk, not the outcome. Model both paths in the calculator above to see the difference for your own horizon.
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Rates verified 2026-10-09 · Sourced from official seller fee schedules